Franklin s



May 179 F. S. UPHAM TOP Filed 00?.. 19, 1925 Patented May 17, 192.7.

FRANKLIN' S. UPHAM, OF DES MOINES, IOWA.

TOP.

Application filed October 19, 19535.

The object of my iuventioi'ris to provide a top having a 'ily wheel mounted thereon wherein the fly wheel may move relative to the top itselt so that different positions ot the `l'ly wheel may be secured relative to the spinner portion oit the top.

Still a further object is to provide a top having a spinner including' a cone shaped member, a shank of substantial diameter which receives the iiy wheel ol the top and a spindle ot sul'istantially small diameter so that the si'iinningoit the top may be easilyA obtained by wrappine` a cord around the spindle andthen pulling' the cord it'or iinparting` rotation to the spinner and the ily wheel mounted thereon.

Still a t'urther object is to provide a lly wheel which relies upon itriction between itself and the spinner to hold it relative to the spinner so that in order to properly spin the top it is necessary to start the pull upon the cord which rotates the spinner quite slowly until suliicient momentum is obtained tor insuring the proper spinning ot the top.

Still a further object is to provide a plu- 'ality ot' rings which may be dropped on to the spindle of the spinner while it is in motion, the rings being` ot several ditllerent colors so that various combinations of colors may be obtained, while the top is spinning and various positions oi' colors will be Ahad when the top ceases to spin.

Still a further object to provide an indicator on the spinner ot the numbers on the ily wheel or vice versa so that the top may be used as a game where points will be scored depending upon just where the position oit the spinner is relative to the ily wheel when the top ceases to spin.

lith these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and con'ibination o't the various parts of my device, whereby the objects contennplated are attained` as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accomlninyingi' drawings,

in which:

Figure 1 a plan view oit my improved top complete with the rings used therewith, parts being; shown in section to better illustrate theconstruction.

Figure 2 is an underside view ot the top; and

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Serial N0. (33,319.

In the accon'ipauyingiY drawings, l have used the re'lerence numeral 10 to indicate the cone shaped spinner which is 'formed with a flat upper surface 11 upon which rests la balance or 'fly wheel 12.

Formed integral with the spinner 10 is a shank 13 ot substantial diameter.

The iy wheel 12 is torined with asubstantial opening' 1st ot' sutlicient diameter to receive the shank 13 therein rinelongnrted spindle 15 extends up above the shank lil and isitormed 'integral therewith. The shank 123 is ot' the same length as the hy wheel l, as clearly shown in Figure 1 ol the drawings.

ln order to spin the top the fly wheel. 12 and the spinner 13 are connected together and a cord (not shown) as wound around the spindle 15 and by conmiencine,- to unwind the cord relatively slow at the start and faster toward the end, l am able to spin the top relying upon friction between the balance wheel 1Q and the spinner and shank 10 and 13. The knob 17 at the upper end of the spindle serves as a holder or handle whereby to engage and hold the top in position while the unwinding ot' the cord is done and thet-op put into spinning motion.

ln the event that the Ioperator of the top begins to spin the same quite rapidly at the start, then in that ease the fly wheel 12 will slip relative to the spinner 1() and the spinning` ott' the top will notbe e'l'l'eetive, and the time of spinningwill be quite short.

By starting' to spin slowly the balance wheel so serves as a real balance wheel and insures spinning for quite some time.

The shank 18 assists materially in the proper rictional engagement between the balance wheel 12 and the spinner 10.

Atte-r the top has been spinning,- 'for sometime the ope 1ator may drop rings 1G upon the spindle 15 and the rings 16 may be ot different colors.

In the drawings, I have shown the rings oit red, white and blue. A knob 17 may be placed over the upper end ot the spindle after the rings 15 are in place.

Upon the spinner 10, I place a pointer or indicator 18 and upon the underside of the ily wheel 12, 1 place a series of numbers referred to b v the reference numeral 19.

When the top is played and points are to be scored, then the player Lgets as many points as the number closest to the indicator (ifi 18. For example, if the top stops spinning and the indicator points at 9, then the player gets nine points for his credit.

An indicator 2O may be placed upon one of the rings 16 and numbers 21 placed upon the top of the fly wheel 12, and these points may be counted, if: desired7 the same as the points shown on the underside of the ly Wheel 12.

If it is desired to have additional means of scoring, then points may be counted when the red of onering 16 registers `with the red oi' another ring 16.

The same rmay be true for the White and blue.

The arrangement oiE colors on the ring 16 add materially to the appearance ol" the spinning top and at the same time serve as a means of scoring points in case it is desired to play that Way.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement ot the various parts of my invention. without departing` from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my .intention to cover by my claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents, which may he reasonably included within their scope.

1 claim as my invention:

1. A top comprising a spinner member, a shank 'termed integral with said spinner and extending thereabove, a spindle above said shank, said spindle .being of less diameter than the shank and a fly Wheel of greater diameter than the spinner member received upon the shank, a plurality of rings adapted to extend around the spindle and be received upon said fly Wheel and a pointer upon one of said rings` and a series ol' indicating eharaeters upon the fly wheel as and for the purposes stated.

2f A top comprisiiugr a spinner member, a spindle loi-ined integral with said spinner and extending thereabove, a fly Wheel of greater outside diameter than the spinner member loosely mounted on said spindle and resting on said spinner member, a plurality or rings adapted to extend around the spindle and hc received on said fly Wheel and a pointer upon one of said rings anda series ol' indicating' characters upon the fly wheel as and for the purposes stated.

FRANKLIN S. UPHAM. 

